Although the capacity to learn how to manipulate flowers plays an integral role in the foraging of
bumblebees, little is known about the effects of parasitic infection on the motor learning and memory of
host bees. In the laboratory experiment reported here, we examined whether infection by the intestinal
protozoan Crithidia bombi affected the ability of bumblebees, Bombus impatiens, to learn the specialized
motor pattern required to handle a novel flower type. Using videotaped records of foraging behaviour, we
related the motor performance of bees to the intensity of C. bombi infection. Low intensities of infection
had no effect on the ability of bees to learn a novel flower-handling method; however, a high intensity of
infection significantly reduced both motor-learning rate and maximum handling proficiency. In addition,
highly infected bees showed a 200% increase in the amount of time and the number of visits required to
learn how to manipulate flowers. These results indicate that C. bombi can influence the foraging behaviour
of host bumblebees in subtle but ecologically significant ways.
Although the capacity to learn how to manipulate flowers plays an integral role in the foraging ofbumblebees, little is known about the effects of parasitic infection on the motor learning and memory ofhost bees. In the laboratory experiment reported here, we examined whether infection by the intestinalprotozoan Crithidia bombi affected the ability of bumblebees, Bombus impatiens, to learn the specializedmotor pattern required to handle a novel flower type. Using videotaped records of foraging behaviour, werelated the motor performance of bees to the intensity of C. bombi infection. Low intensities of infectionhad no effect on the ability of bees to learn a novel flower-handling method; however, a high intensity ofinfection significantly reduced both motor-learning rate and maximum handling proficiency. In addition,highly infected bees showed a 200% increase in the amount of time and the number of visits required tolearn how to manipulate flowers. These results indicate that C. bombi can influence the foraging behaviourof host bumblebees in subtle but ecologically significant ways.
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